Japan to start accepting vaccination passport applications

Japan has announced that the country will start accepting vaccine passports from July 26 onwards. According to the top government spokesman, these vaccine passports will be available for Japanese travellers who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. It has also been reported that some municipalities in Japan will be able to issue certificates on the day of the application itself.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary, Katsunobu Kato mentioned the start date of the application in a television programme.

The Chief Cabinet Secretary also mentioned that the government is also contemplating whether or not to start such certificates for domestic economic activities as well, as requested by the business community. The Japan Business Federation, which is the largest business lobby in the country, has suggested that such certificates be used for raising event attendance caps, and for discounts at restaurants in the country.
Kato also mentioned that the government will not allow people to be discriminated against or forced unfairly in regards to being vaccinated or not. Such certificates will be official records that will be issued by municipalities, and shall be the proof of a person’s vaccination status. They will include the name of the person, passport number, and the dates of vaccination.

Japan is hoping to get its vaccination passports accepted by countries such as Greece, Italy, and France, among others. The vaccination passports should allow travellers to bypass quarantines, or perhaps get a reduced quarantine period upon arrival.